Search - Franz [Vienna] Schubert, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Yefim Bronfman :: Schubert: Piano Quintet "Trout"; Mozart: Piano Quartet in E flat

Superb Performances of Schubert and Mozart Chamber Works fro

John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 07/25/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Pianist Yefim Bronfman and violinist Pinchas Zuckerman are joined by three of Zuckerman's colleagues in the Ottawa, Canada-based National Arts Centre Orchestra, in two truly riveting performances of Schubert's "Trout" Piano Quintet and Mozart's Piano Quartet in E Flat. The chemistry amongst the performers is absolutely superb (The other musicians include violist Jethro Marks, cellist Amanda Forsyth and double bassist Joel Quarrington in the Schubert quintet.). This is truly a CD replete with virtuoso music making of the highest order, and though both works have been recorded often, these new recordings are ones that should interest chamber music fans as well as long-time admirers of both Bronfman and Zuckerman. The chemistry amongst this ad hoc chamber music ensemble is superb, reminding me, for example, of either the Beaux Arts Trio at its artistic height, or the Emerson String Quartet. Violist Marks and cellist Forsyth are to be commended especially for their rather exciting, technically brilliant, and quite vibrant, solos in the Schubert "Trout" Piano Quintet, especially in the "Trout" variations comprising this piece's fourth of five movements (There is also, I might add, quite impressive playing too from double bassist Quarrington.).



One of Schubert's best-loved - and, I might add, classical music's too - chamber music pieces, his Piano Quintet in A Major, D667 "The Trout", was also among his earliest, composed in 1819. One of the reasons why it remains so well-loved is the intensely lyrical qualities of this score, which was composed on behalf of a hometown acquaintance, Sylvester Paumgartner, an amateur cellist. It is composed almost in classic sonata form, with Allegro vivace (first), Andante (second), Scherzo: Presto (third), Thema: Andantino - Variazioni I-V - Allegretto (fourth), and Allegro giusto (fifth) movements. As I noted earlier, the fourth movement is composed of a set of variations based on Schubert's lied (song) "The Trout", with notable solo passages from each of the string instruments in the quintet.



Mozart is noted, among his many musical accomplishments, for creating the classical music genre known as the piano quartet. His Piano Quartet in E Flat Major, K493, is a three-movement work comprised of Allegro (first), Largo (second) and Allegretto (third) movements. Composed in 1786, both this quartet and the earlier G minor quartet (K478) are still regarded as masterpieces in this genre. Once more we are treated to exceptional playing from Bronfman, Zuckerman, Marks, and Forsyth; the latter two clearly distinguish themselves as two of the very best North American classical musicians of their respective instruments. Once more we hear exquisite music making of the highest order from these musicians, demonstrating excellent rapport with each other.

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